Support and encourage fellow team members by helping those who need assistance.

Do not avoid conflict. Address issues or problems when they happen.

Working independently

Set realistic daily/weekly goals and evaluate your success at the end of the day/week.

Create a daily/weekly to-do list to help prioritize and organize your tasks.

Divide large projects into smaller and more manageable tasks.

Minimize interruptions by scheduling a specific time to work on a project/task.

Manage your time carefully so that you have time to respond to unexpected requests.

Regularly review the progress you have made in your work. Make adjustments to your to-do list or schedule if necessary.

Write your daily/weekly accomplishments in a log and share them with your supervisor.

Provide regular progress reports to your supervisor so that he/she is aware of the work you do.

Take initiative by doing what needs to be done before being asked.

Understand the big picture by asking colleagues how the work you do affects their work.

Connect with people who share your interests by networking at seminars, joining associations and/or volunteering.

Ask for help and/or advice when you have questions.

Working in a leadership role

Set clear roles and responsibilities for each team member.

Establish team goals that are clear, understood, and accepted by everyone.

Discuss and establish team procedures (e.g. for team meetings).

Hold regular team meetings to get updates on each team member’s progress.

Help others by sharing your experiences and offering guidance or advice.

Lead by setting a good example for the people around you.

Let people know when they are doing a good job.

Recognize the accomplishments of those around you.

Give constructive feedback to help others improve their work.

Be objective when giving feedback or input.

Support others by listening to their concerns and feelings.

Include everyone in group discussions by encouraging others to share their ideas.

Do not judge others’ ideas or suggestions when hearing them for the first time.

Consider all options when making a decision.

Take the time to explain something when a colleague doesn’t understand.

Demonstrate passion and enthusiasm for the work you do.

Encourage group interactions and maintain a positive atmosphere.

Working with others practice and learning exercises

Practice your working with others skills by completing the following exercises. Use the Working with Others Tip Sheet to help you as you work through the exercises. A learning plan template is also included to help guide your skills development.

1. Giving feedback

Think about a time when you provided feedback on someone else’s work. Did you…

Practice exercises

Limit your feedback to 2 or 3 key points?

Recognize the strengths of the work before addressing areas for improvement?

If you work in a team, try to also identify the personality types of your team members. This exercise will help you gain a better understanding of your colleagues’ perspectives and how they may react in different situations.

Additional learning exercises

Create a to-do list for the week ahead. Be sure to describe the task, assign a due date, and note any specific pieces of information you will need to complete the task.

Get together with your co-workers (on a break or during lunch time) to discuss the different personality types of those on your team. Identify ways that different personalities complement each other and can work together.

Organize a team building or icebreaker activity with your coworkers (on a break or during lunch time). Make sure that everyone is involved.

Ask your manager if you can facilitate your next team meeting. Think about:

What items should be on the agenda?

Who will speak about each item?

What are the desired outcomes for the meeting?

How much time should be spent discussing each item?

My learning plan

Complete this worksheet to help guide your skills development. Set a target date to reach your goals and use this date to track your progress.